OREGON22: Kenyans chase elusive men's 10,000m title

It has been 21 years since the Kenyan national anthem was played at the World Athletics Championships in celebrations of a men's 10,000m gold. 

On Sunday, 17 July, 2019 world bronze medalist in the distance Rodgers Kwemoi will lead a Kenyan trio that also has Daniel Mateiko and Stanley Mburu in an attempt to end the long wait. 

The three, however, have their work cut out as they face a loaded field of with the starting lineup of 24 including the defending champion, Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei and the Olympic champion, Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega. 

Barega won the Olympic title in his fifth ever race over 25 laps and then won his sixth in Hengelo during the Ethiopian trials in 26:44.73

On his part, the title holder, Cheptegei, who is also the world record-holder already has a gold and silver in this event but he has not run a 10,000m in 2022. 

Omanyala stays positive after difficult World Championship debut

Cheptegei's only track race thus far was the promotional 5000m at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Eugene on 27 May, which he won in 12:57.99. 

He, however, has the motivation of potentially becoming the fourth back-to-back world 10,000m champion, after Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele and Mo Farah. 

Meanwhile Jacob Kiplimo, the Olympic bronze medallist’s only track race since his world half-marathon record in February was a 7:29.55 3000m in Stockholm, but that is an jndicator of good form and he could challenge for a place on the podium.

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